The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA)
and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
launched a formal protest against the September sale
of 14 oil and gas leases bordering the Green River
above Desolation Canyon in Utah. Over 200 parcels,
totaling more than 350,000 acres, were auctioned
on September 8, 2004. In separate letters sent
to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) prior to the
sale, both OIA and NOLS denounced the auction, citing
the loss of outdoor recreation treasures that are
integral to the economy of eastern Utah. The Outdoor
Industry Association’s letter was co-signed
by Utah-based businesses Black Diamond and Petzl
America, as well as American Whitewater, a kayak
user group, and Outward Bound, an organization with
significant operations on Utah’s rivers.

The fourteen parcels of land in contention
border a segment of the Green River, which is currently
being assessed for federal protection under the Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act. The stretch of river that
would be impacted by the lease sale is highly used
and widely recognized as a world-class river. NOLS,
one of the premier teachers of outdoor skills and
leadership, operates nearly a third of its Utah river-based
courses in that segment of the Green River, and sees
significant potential for growth if additional leasing
can be prevented.

The outdoor recreation industry expressed
serious concern over the impact of existing oil and
gas development on the recreational experience in
the area, and contends that further development may
drive recreational users away. The current and projected
oil and gas wells already amount to intensive land
use not contemplated in the management plans for
the area, and the BLM’s proposed lease activity
goes against the recreation vision put forth in those
plans.

"The Green River will lose its appeal for recreational
and educational use if its shorelines are developed
further for oil and gas activities. The section of
river above Desolation Canyon targeted by the sale
is key for our operations and those of numerous outfitters,
and includes an important launching point," said
John Gans, Executive Director of NOLS.

New management plans, which include
assessments on the suitability of the Green River
for Wild and Scenic River status, are near completion. OIA
and NOLS both requested that the BLM defer leasing
on the most recreationally significant of the proposed
leases until the true impact of increased oil and
gas activity can be addressed and the new plans can
be finalized.

For the past year and a half, the outdoor
recreation industry has engaged in an intense dialogue
with the state of Utah in order to identify and protect
Utah’s recreation gems. The Utah Recreation
Economic Ecosystem Task Force (UREETF) was created
with this purpose in mind, and is currently working
on the recreation gems list. This new and intensive
leasing process by BLM has moved out ahead of the
Utah Task Force effort.

“This oil and gas lease sale
has the potential to impair the recreational qualities
we have collectively sought to promote and protect,” said
Frank Hugelmeyer, president of OIA. “Inclusion
of these parcels will jeopardize the integrity of
Utah’s precious landscapes and recreational
havens, possibly yielding devastating consequences
to the recreation economy of Utah. Desolation Canyon
and the river stretching above and below it are outdoor
recreation treasures that require special care. We
urge BLM to ensure these outstanding recreation opportunities
are available for generations to come.”

The BLM is still in the process of
evaluating the lease sale protests. NOLS and OIA
continue to work with the agency to minimize the
impact of oil and gas development on the Green River
corridor. We will provide progress reports in future
newsletters.

About the Outdoor Industry Association

The Outdoor Industry Association was
founded in 1989 and provides trade services for over
4,000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales
representatives and retailers in the Outdoor Industry.
Members include recognized brands such as JanSport,
Columbia, Nike, Eagle Creek, The North Face, Patagonia,
Mountain Hardwear, Sierra Designs, Timberland and
many others. OIA has member companies in every state
of the U.S. Many of OIA's members are national specialty
stores with location and employees across the country,
such as REI, EMS and Galyan's. OIA programs include:
industry research, representation in Washington,
D.C., educational programs, consumer outreach and
cost-saving benefits. OIA is headquartered in Boulder,
Colorado. For more information go to: http://www.outdoorindustry.org

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